Science

Rocks and Minerals

Distinguish rocks from minerals, compare the three rock types, and investigate mineral properties and the distribution of Earth’s resources. Includes student and teacher PDFs and a 12-slide presentation in English, Spanish, French, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Middle 7th Grade

NGSS MS-ESS3-1 (primary) — Explain from evidence how geoscience processes produce uneven distributions of mineral, energy, and groundwater resources. NGSS MS-ESS2-1 (supporting) — Model the cycling of Earth's materials and the energy flow that drives it. TEKS 6.10C (primary) — Describe how metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks form and change through the rock cycle. TEKS 6.6C (supporting) — Identify metals, nonmetals, metalloids, and rare Earth elements by physical properties and importance to modern life.